Trouble shifting into first

jred · Post by **jred** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:12 pm

I just got an R1150R and I absolutely love it. I don't know what I was doing wasting my time on the Sportster. One problem that I've had so far regards shifting into first from neutral. Sometimes, after sitting at a light for a while, I try to shift into first and nothing happens. There's no clicking sound at all. I usually shift into second just so I don't hold up traffic. Does anyone know what might cause this and/or what I might be doing wrong?

Post by **NoRRmad** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:21 pm

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=5439

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:29 pm

jred, I have had this problem too and it is something you get used to. And it changes as the bike warms up. What I do when the bike is cold is let out the clutch in neutral and then pull it in (disengage) as I press the shifter lever. Works smoothly. And, when the bike is hot I do the same thing, but wait just a hair longer (~ 1/2 second) after pulling in the clutch again before dropping into first gear to let the spinning tranny shaft slow down a bit so it engages without a clunk.

This was intially disconcerting, but now it's second nature and I don't think about it (until you mentioned it!)

Hope this works for you. The only thing that disturbs me about this trick is that if I'm sitting at a light in neutral, and I see a car coming up behind me too fast, it takes an extra split second to double-clutch and get it into gear to escape a rear-ending, so I watch my six carefully to allow enough time to do it...I hope.

jred · Post by **jred** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:20 pm

Thanks a lot. I was hoping it was just a technique thing. I'll keep working on it.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:29 pm

Here's what I do.

Clutch in..put pressure on the gear lever..if it doesn't click in gear..slowly let out the clutch (just a little while keeping pressure on the gear lever) till it clicks in gear.

It will work every time.

DJ

cbesey · Post by **cbesey** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:33 pm

I'll have to play with the clutch v shift timing technique. I just roll it forward or back a few inches and it usually pops right into gear. Almost never happens when warmed up, just when cold.

Jred, I made the same switch from an old Sportster back in November and put more miles on the 1150 in 6 weeks than I had ridden the HD in six months - enjoy the new ride!

ranmar850 · Post by **ranmar850** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:27 am

They all do that....

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:32 am

ranmar850 wrote:They all do that....

And then some - my old Suzui and Yamaha bikes did it too. It's only a matter of the gears meshing and when things aren't turning in there, they probably aren't going to mesh.

Jonny_L · Post by **Jonny_L** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:18 am

Yep, they certainly do, in fact, I've never owned a bike that hasn't done that!
Harley's don't do that? I guess they've got something going for them after all

Post by **dnat928** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:41 pm

This has happened to me, and still does once in a while. There may be some type of mechanical interlock that we are just catching the tip of. I mean, the same type of interlock that keeps the transmission from shifting more that two gears in one click of the shifter. Typically, this requires the combination of pulling in the clutch and moving the shift lever. That being the case, simply moving the clutch lever should do the trick. Whenever I'm idling in neutral, and commence shifting and it doesn't move into 1st gear, I just pull the clutch again - and it shifts into 1st just fine.

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:01 pm

BMW transmission is not up-to-date with design and for some reasons they take pride in making clunky, agricultural transmission. Instead of playing with the clutch and such, just rock the bike back and forth a little bit and it'll be fine. There are a lot of things to love about BMW, but the tranny isn't one of them. Get out of the 1970s already, for God's sake!!!

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:54 pm

Yeah, "they all do that."

The first time I encountered it was at an intersection when the light turned green after a long red. For a split moment, I thought the transmission was broken. Then after moving the bike forward by a foot or so, the lever clicked into first.

Compared to my SV650 and (horrors!) even my Harley's, the BMW transmission leaves something to be desired in terms of feel and ease of shifting into first. From what I can tell having test-ridden the new GS a year and a half ago, the new boxer transmission is significantly better.

Arbreacames · Post by **Arbreacames** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:00 am

If first gear does not go in, you may be waiting too long before you shift. Once you declutch, the input shaft quickly slows down and then stops. The shaft needs to be turning for the gear to engage (when bike is stopped). On a cold transmission, you should engage the gear within a second or so. On a warm transmission, the oil is thinner and you should wait a little longer to let the shaft slow down some so that it will not clunk.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 1:51 pm

If the bike is cold try depressing the gear lever till you feel resistance, hold it there, pop in the clutch and click it down, usually works.

Post by **NoRRmad** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:10 pm

Careful there... It's not hard to get into first with the clutch engaged. Then the bike will jump out from under you into the intersection.

motorbikemike · Post by **motorbikemike** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:52 pm

all ya really have to to is roll forward a bit & it will snick into 1st. All gears remember??